Dec. 99 Article summary: This is
a tutorial for using IrfanView32, a freeware to convert fabric swatches gleaned
from the Internet to usable bitmap files that quilting software Fabric Libraries
recognize.

Convert and resize multiple fabric images at
the same time to 256 colors or less bitmaps.

Lighten
a dark fabric image

Tweak coloring of fabric
image

More Ideas on how to use the program

What are the problems encountered using Internet fabric
images?

OK, we have payload of swatches ready for the gleaning right
at our finger tips on the Internet? Yes, BUTTTT, gleaning fabrics is not as simple
as just downloading your favorite image because the majority of the gleaned fabric
images are in jpeg and gif formats and sometimes too large a image raises its
head (especially when scanning but that is another lesson another time.) The reason
you find these jpegs and gifs is they have a compressed formating that saves bandwidth
across the Internet. PROBLEM? Yes, because these jpegs and gifs need to be converted
to bitmaps using the file extension of .bmp that our favorite quilting software
programs like Creative Impulse,
Electric Quilt 4, Quilt-Pro
2 & 3, and PCQuilt.

As I monitor
the mail lists that computer quilters are using, I see there are three major complaints:

Size of the newly saved fabric file can cause slowing,
freezing, or not found messages in the quilt programs.

Conversion
to bitmap or reducing the file size often darkens the fabric swatch.

Users often do not have adequate software that converts
the files to quality usable bitmaps because the images need resized or the image
is too large or too dark (darkening often happens when reducing image size), or
the images has too many colors.

Some software require adding a rle
-- what is rle by the way -- humm your don't know either? Getting to complicated?
wwwhhoooaaaa

To bad Windows Paint has NO helpful
tools to help out with these conversion issues for the obvious reasons.

How
can the free software, IrfanView, solve your bitmap problems?

I have been researching, using trial and error, sweating, and losing
sleep looking for a simple, easy to do solution. The biggest problem
is computer variables. We all do not all have the same quality of
machines, same operating systems, ram, or video cards, or scanners
so what works for one does not necessarily work for another. What
looks good on one machine, may not look good another. So is there
a possible across the board solution that should produce OK to EXCELLENT
results for most computer setups? Graphic programs will do the job,
but are costly and often complicated. So I still was looking for simple,
affordable solution that was easy to do and that anyone could use?

I found the answer and this month's feature article topic thanks
to Sherie Reed's who mentioned a freeware called IrfanView32 in
a post to Info-EQ, a mail list for Electric Quilt users. I quickly
downloaded the program and tried it out. I was amazed by how easy
it was to learn and how quickly I was able to convert a large number
of jpegs and gifs at one time. It was a snap to lighten, darken,
adjust color and resize any image. And even better yet. Each converted
file worked flawlessly Creative Impulse, Electric Quilt 4, Quilt-Pro
2 & 3, QuiltSOFT, and PCQuilt. IrfanView32 is a jewel of program.
Small in size (short downloading time) and easy to use, simple to
learn, and quickly gets the job done!

Because of the ease built into the program for eleminating the problems
encountered with converting to usable fabric library bitmap files,
I have added a tutorial on how to download fabric from the Internet
and then use IrfanView to convert your files to the
usable 256 color .bmp files. But first, lets address how to download
fabric images from the internet.

When you are ready to download IrfanView32,
go to
and find instruction on how to download the file,and locate Irfanview
under the Freeware section. It is a self-extracting file, just
double-click on the file and it will automatically begin the process.
FYI: this is the first freeware that I felt was good enough to go
and ask permission to have a download zip file availabe to you right
here on my website because I did not want to risk the link going dead
like other downloads I have recommended.

How to download fabric images
from the internet using Netscape or Internet Explorer:

First: Create two folders. One for your downloaded
images and the second for your fabric images that are going to be
converted from jpegs and gifs.

Suggestion: Use your desktop to place your folders. (This
is the screen that is visible when no programs are open) This is an
easy place to find and i not buried in directories and subfolders
inside of subfolders inside subfolders if you get my drift.

To create a Folder:

Step 1: Right-click on an empty section of the Desktop (this
is the screen that is visible when no programs are open) and a pop-up
menu will appear.

Step 2: To create a new folder: Go to NEW in the pop-up menu
(see above), then drag the cursor to the arrow to open the side fly-out
menu that shows Folder. Select Folder (see above).

Step 3: Change the name of the folder from New Folder to a
name of your choice like Internet Fabric Search by doing the following:

a.
Using your mouse, RIGHT-Click on New Folder (it will grey out).

b. Type
in a new name for the folder (suggestion: Internet Fabric Search)
or name of your choice.

Step 4: Repeat steps 1-3 for a second folder that you will
name: Converted Fabrics.

Step
5: Click on the Up-One-Level
Folder until
the Desktop appears in the Save in: section as shown below.

Step 6: Using
the Left Mouse Button, double-click on . (See
example in Step 4.)

Step
7: Your are now ready to
save your fabric to the Internet Fabric Search Folder by clicking the Save button.

HINT:
You may want to name each fabric something that makes sense to you for future
reference. See example above. I have named the file to be saved hawaii4. Keep
the name to 8 letters or less just for good measure (Quilt-Pro 2 users this is
required) -- do not worry about the type of file it is -- remember we will be
coverting all files to 256 color bitmaps in the next section of this tutorial.

NOTE:
If you continue to save fabrics during this search session, the Save As dialogue
box will automatically open up to the Internet Fabric Search Folder each time
and you will not have to repeat the above steps. If you end the fabric downloading
session and use the Save As dialogue box for something else, you will need to
repeat the above steps.

Step
8: After you have saved several files, you are ready to convert your fabric
images. Go to the Tutorial for using Irfanview32 below to see an easy way
to convert multiple fabric image files at one. Best thing about IrafanView32
is it is a powerful, fast FREEWARE that meets our needs as gleaners of fabric
swatches!

What is IrfanView32?

IrfanView is a very fast FREEWARE (for non-commercial use).
It is a 32-Bit graphic viewer for Windoze95/98 and Windows NT that supports 37
different graphic file formats. What makes IrfanVIEW32 useful to Electric Quilt
4, Quilt-Pro 2 and 3, QuiltSOFT 4 and PCQuilt users? IrfanView32's can:

Converts fabric image files that are downloaded
off the Internet like jpegs, gifs and pngs to a useable 256 colors or less bitmap
format for the our quilting software fabric libraries.

Shows
thumbnail views of a folder contents so that you can preview your downloads before
converting them.

Act as your scanner destination program.

Lighten or darken your images.

Tweak,
swap or change color settings to create new color versions of a fabric

Add
special effects to create interesting variations to an image.

Can
create a slideshow of your favorite images for show and tell.

IrfanView32
does much more than the above list, but for our quilting software purposes this
is more than enough and remember, its FREE!

Browse
through the tutorial to see why IrfanView32 is going to solve your coversion
in only a few easy steps.

When you are ready to download
IrfanView32, go to
and find instruction on how to download the file and locate Irfanview32 under
the Freeware section. It is a self-extracting file, just double-click on
the file and it will automatically begin the process. FYI: this is the first freeware
that I felt was good enough to go and ask permission to have a download zip file
availabe to you right here on my website because I did not want to risk the link
going dead like other downloads I have recommended.

Use IrfanView32 to View Your Fabric Images:

NOTE: If you already using IrfanView32
make sure that you have the latest version 3.17 for all the features I use in
this tutorial, if you do not, download the file from the above paragraph.

Step 1: Install the IrfanView32 on your
hard drive so that you can use it and open the program. See information above
for where to download the program for FREE.

Step 2: To view Thumbnails
of the contents of the Internet Fabric Search Folder:

Click
on the File Menu and select Thumbnail

OR

Better yet try the shortcut for simple opening and closing
of the Thumbnail box by using the Shortcut Key T. Hit T again the
Thumnail Viewer will close

Note: Remember I said easy-to-use,
most of the shortcut keys are single keystrokes, much easier to remember and the
ability to close the options by hitting the key again is wonderful!

Thumbnail View

Step
3: To view the specifics
of a file size and to allow you to see the variations found in downloads for type
of file, pixel size and the byte size, use the following option:

Click
on the File Menu and select Open

OR

Use
the keyboard Shortcut Key O to open and close the Open dialogue box.

To select the
folder that contains the downloaded internet files: Click on the Up-One-Level
Folder until
the Desktop appears in the Look in section.

Highlight
the image you wish to see by clicking on the file name (see example above.)

NOTE:At
the bottom of the Open dialgue box there is a section that gives you the detail
of your image. Make sure sure that Preview active is checked. (see two example
below for closeups of Preview details) IrfanView32 lists the details of the preview.
This preview feature is not in found most graphic programs and yet here it is
in a freeware! It is a very useful in helping you identify the variable found
in your image. The most important to note, is the COLORS: both these examples
shown are 32 bpp (meaning 16 million plus colors using 32bit imaging.) Remember,
Electric Quilt 4 and Quilt-Pro 2 & 3 will accept only 256 colors. These images
will require converting.

To
preview the next image in the Internet Fabric Search use the keyboard up or
arrow key (remember I said simple.)

Use
IrfanView32 to:

Convert
multiple fabric files at one time

Reduce
the number of colors in a bitmap

Resize
multiple files automatically

Step
1: To open the Batch Conversion dialogue box, use one of two methods:

OR use
the Shortcut keystroke B. (remember hitting B again will close the dialogue
box)

Step 2: To
select the destination file folder for your output/converted files: NOTE: you
want a separate folder from your download files or your original files will be
mixed with the converted files. This will make it difficult to import converted
files into the Quilt Software fabric libraries.

Open
the Browse for folder Window by clicking Browse. (See example above.)

Select the folder for Converted
Fabrics or the destination folder of your choice from the Browse for Folder
dialogue box (See example to the below.)

Step
3: To select the conversion
options for the downloaded fabric files from the Set for all images dialogue
box:

Suggestions:

Check
Aspect ration so that the image does not distort or skew to something different
when converting the file.

Check
resample because it creates a better quality conversion.

If
your fabric is colorful, select 256 colors. If you have downloaded solid type
fabrics, 16 colors may be OK. Or limit your colors by using CUSTOM. (Remember
the process is so simple, that you can redo with another color option if needed.)

**Too large of pixel
image for fabric can cause program slowing, freezing or in EQ 4 error messages
on importing.. Also the fabric may look like it is not
filling the patch because the tiled view is only a tiny portion of the fabric.
Therefore, it is best to stick with pixel sizes no greater than 200 in height
or width.

Step 5: To select the
folder that contains the fabric files for conversion: Click on the Up-One-Level
Folder
until the Desktop appears in the Look in section. (See example below.)

Then select
the Internet Fabric Search Folder or the folder your files are in, your
files will list in the white box to the right. (See example below.)

Step 6: The
fabric files to be converted to the selected options in Step 2 must be moved to
the left Files box. (See example below.) To move the files from the right to the
left Files box, you can use several methods:

Lighten or Darken or Change
Coloring in a Fabric Image using IrfanView32.

Highlight
1 file from the right list shown above and click Add.

To move all the files
from the right to left Files list, click Add All

To select a portion
of the right list in order, hold down the shift key and select the first file
and the last file (all files between the two will hightlight). Click Add.

To
move random files from the right list to the left Files list, hold down the Control
keyboard key and select the files you want to move and click Add.

To
remove a fabric file from the left Files list, select Remove.

To remove all the
files from the left Fiels list, select Remove All.

Step
6: To convert all the files listed in the Files
box: Click .

Now that you have converted the fabric files, you want to preview
them to see if the conversion produced the results you want. Sometimes a bitmap
conversion to a smaller file can result in darker image or a color change. This
problem often arises when converting a large image. IranView32 allows you to quickly
preview each fabric conversion and make adjustments if necessary.

Step 1: To
open your fabric files: (See example above.)

Click
on the File Menu and select Open. (see example below.)

OR use the
Shortcut Key O. Hit O again the Open dialogue box will close.

Step
2: To select the folder that
contains the downloaded internet files: Click on the Up-One-Level Folder until
the Desktop (or the location of the folder of your fabric images) appears
in the Look in section.

Step
3: Open the fabric you wish
to view:

Double-click
on the fabric name with the left mouse.

OR

Click
on the fabric to highlight and click the OPEN button

Step 4:
To quickly preview the next fabric file in the folder, click the keyboard
spacebar. (Remember I said this was an easy program). Repeat TIL you have
viewed all the fabrics and determined which ones might require some tweaking.

Step
5: After returning to the
fabric that needs lighten or darken or to create a number of lighter and darker
variations of a fabric, I have found that the Gamma Correction option is a great
choice.

In
the top Menu Bar, click Image.

From the
Image Menu Select Gamma Correction and the below dialogue box will appear.
s

Here are
two variations of a converted fabric to show how dramatic of a change you can
get with gamma.

original fabric

lightened version

Now I have two fabric of the same style for my library
and I could have made more.

More
ideas

Well
now you are ready to fly on own! Here are some ideas to follow:

There are
several more options for changing color, swapping colors, and more under the Image
File Menu. Experiment here and find out how easy making fabric variations are.

Use
Capture under the Options menu to snag a picture of your favorite quilt on the
screen and send it to your buddies.

Use
Wallpaper under the Options menu to set your favorite image as the computer desktop
picture centered or tiled without having to go into Windows Display options.

Use
Effects under the Options menu to play around and create new inspiring
images for quilt, fabric and other things.

Create
a slideshow of your favorite imaes using Slideshow under the File Menu.Check
out Sort Directory files under the Options menu to see additional
details about your files.

Use IrfanView32 as
your scanner desitination file. Find Twain Source under the File Menu
and then use Aquire to bring in the scanned image. (I will be doing a tutorial
on this in a future issue of Computer Quilting BYTES).

Remember,
IrfanView32 can be downloaded right here. For instruction on how to download and
the file, go to
and locate Irfanview under the Freeware section. It is a self-extracting file,
just double-click on it and it will automatically begin the install proceedure.